Coat extension infant cover

ABSTRACT

An infant cover that can be affixed to the open front edges of an item of clothing, such as a coat, to provide protection against weather elements to an infant carried by the person in the front, chest area of the person. The infant cover has a main panel and a pair of side panels that are oppositely disposed and extend outwardly from the main panel. A pair of folds is formed between the main panel and the side panels. One or more affixation devices are located in each fold to affix the infant cover to the front, open edges of the coat and span the area therebetween. The infant cover provides protection to an infant carried against the chest of the person by covering the normally open space present between the front edges of the unsecured coat so as to create a protective environment for the infant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cover to be worn by a person and, more particularly, to a cover that attaches to the front edges of an item of clothing, such as a coat, worn by a person to provide protection or comfort to an infant carried at the chest area of a person or protection or comfort to a person carrying the infant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known various devices for carrying an infant by a person wherein the infant is safely and securely carried close to the carrying person for warmth and support. One popular device is a front carrying device that allows the carrying person to hold the infant close to the chest of the person so that the infant is secure and comfortable and shares warmth with the person.

Typically, the front carrying devices used in carrying an infant are fairly bulky and when the infant is carried in the front of the person against the chest of the carrying person, the combined bulk of the carrying device and the infant often prevents the person from closing the front of the coat since the front edges of the open coat simply cannot physically be brought together.

However, with cold and/or other inclement weather, the use of front carrying infant devices raises a problem in that with the front edges of the person's coat spaced apart, the infant, as well as the carrying person is exposed to the inclement weather.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a cover that could be affixed to the front edges of a person's coat or other item of apparel or to an infant carrier itself so as to provide a protective environment for the infant so that the infant can be carried against the chest of the person in a protective environment shielded from the inclement weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an infant cover that can be used to provide a protective environment along the chest of a person to shield an infant carried by the person from inclement weather by extending the coat across the front of the person to shield the infant. The exemplary embodiment will be explained in terms of a person's coat, however it can will be seen that the present infant cover can be used with other items of clothing or apparel. The infant cover includes a main panel and a pair of side panels that extend outwardly from the main panel such that the side panels extend laterally outwardly a finite distance beyond the main panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, folds are created between the main panel and each of the side panels and there are affixation devices that are located within the fold. The affixation devices are used to secure the infant cover to the open front edges of a coat worn by the person so that the normally open space between the open front edges of the coat is enclosed and a protective and comfortable environment created for the infant.

The infant cover can be used with different sized coats so that the infant cover of the present invention is versatile in its use. It can also be used with various different infant carriers including a front carrier with the infant in either the face forward or face rearward position.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person utilizing a conventional front-carrying infant carrier carrying an infant;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the inside of the infant cover of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the outside of the infant cover of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the infant cover and illustrating the affixation devices of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the infant cover of the present invention partially affixed to the coat of a person;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the infant cover being used to protect an infant being carried in a front position by a person;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an infant cover of the present invention having a hood detachably affixed thereto;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a liner that can be detachably affixed to the infant cover; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the infant cover of the present invention with the liner of FIG. 8 attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a person 10 utilizing a conventional front-carrying infant carrier 12 carrying an infant 14. The front-carrying infant carrier 12 can be any one of a wide variety of carriers that are commercially available or devised by the person. As can be seen, the front carrying infant carrier 12 positions the infant 14 at the chest area of the person 10 so that there a warmth from the person imparted to the infant 14. As also can be seen, the person 10 is wearing a coat 16 with the front edges 18 open since the bulk of the infant and the infant carrier 12 do not allow the person 10 to physically secure the front edges 18 of the coat together. As such, if the weather is inclement, that is, cold and/or windy, the infant 14, as well as the person 10, is relatively exposed to those inclement weather conditions.

Turning then to FIG. 2, taken along with FIG. 1, there is shown the interior of the infant cover 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention. In this Fig. there is a main panel 22 that is comprised of a material that provides protection against the weather and cold from passing though the main panel 22. In an exemplary embodiment there may be combination of an outer, waterproof material and an inner softer material for the comfort of the wearer, however, a single, weather resistant material could be used as opposed to different materials.

The main panel 22 may have a vertical length that covers substantially the torso of the person so that the main panel 22 can fully cover the infant positioned at the chest of the person 10. A pair of side panels 24 extends outwardly from each lateral side of the main panel 22 and can be sewn to the main panel 22. The side panels 24 extend at least substantially the full vertical length of the main panel 22 and, in the exemplary embodiment, extend a finite distance beyond the outer edges 26 of the main panel 22. Again, the side panels 24 may be comprised of two materials similar to the main panel 22 or may be a single weather resistant material.

In order to adjust the fit of the cover, there is an elastic cord 28 and a cord lock 30 running through a sewn channel in the upper and lower end of the main panel 22.

Turning briefly to FIG. 3, there is shown the exterior of the infant cover 20 of the present invention where the side panels 24 extend the finite distance beyond the outer edges 26 of the main panel 22.

Turning next to FIG. 4, there is shown the inside of the infant cover 20 and illustrating affixation devices 32 that allow the person to affix the infant cover 20 to a coat, as will be explained. There can be seen a fold 34 that is formed at the junction or seam of the main panel 22 and the side panels 24 such that when the lateral portions 36 of the main panel 22 are laid flat against the side panels 24 the affixation devices 32 are sandwiched there between. The use of the affixation devices 32 will be later explained, however, it can be seen that the affixation devices 32 can be various types of fastening devices that can be clips, buttons or any other device that enable the affixation devices 32 to be attached to a material and which can be vertically spaced apart and laterally accessible along the infant cover 20.

In the exemplary embodiment, the affixation devices 32 are clamps that have extending alligator ends 38 and a lever 40 that can be manipulated by a person to bring the alligator ends 38 together and hold a fabric or other material therebetween. The affixation devices 32 may be sewn onto the main panel 22 or the side panels 24.

Turning then to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of the infant cover 20 partially affixed to the front edges 18 of the coat 16. Thus, in FIG. 5, two of the affixation devices 32 have been clamped to the front edge 18 of the coat. Although only two affixation devices 32 are shown in their connected status, it can be seen that a corresponding set of affixation devices that are located on the opposite, lateral side of the main panel 22 are affixed in the same manner to the other front edge 18 of the coat 16, wherein the infant cover 20 is securely retained in place affixed to the coat 16 at the front of a person.

As can also be seen in FIG. 5, the front edge 18 of the coat is effectively sandwiched between the side panels 24 and the main panel 22, thereby creating a seal against the intrusion of wind or other effects of inclement weather.

Turning, to FIG. 6, there is shown a perspective view of a person 10 carrying an infant 14 and where the infant 14 is fully covered by the infant cover 20. Thus, the normal opening between the front edges of the coat 16 is effectively sealed and the infant 14 is carried in a protective environment shielded from the elements and yet comfortable to the person 10 carrying the infant 14.

An advantage of the present infant cover 20 is that is can be adapted to interfit with a wide variety of differing coats since the infant cover 20 is simply affixed to the open front edges of the coat and can therefore be used without modification and thus is versatile in its use with such various coats.

Next, in FIG. 7 there is shown a perspective view of an infant cover 20 having a hood 42 removable affixed thereto. As can be seen, the hood is adapted and configured so as to cover the head of an infant when carried by a person and while protected by the infant cover 20. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7, the hood 42 can be affixed to the infant cover 20 by means such as tabs 44 that can be inserted through loops 46 that are affixed to the upper edge 48 of the main panel 22 and the tabs 44 may have ends having a Velcro hook and loop fastening system so as to loop over and attach to themselves after passing though the loops 46.

As shown in FIG. 7 there are three loops 46 affixed to the upper edge 48 of the main panel 22, however, a greater or lesser number of loops 46 can be used. As alternates to the tabs 44 and loops 46, the hood 42 may be detachable affixed to the infant cover 20 by means such as snaps, buttons, clips or other fastening systems.

Turning then to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown a perspective view of a removable insulated insert 50 and a perspective view of the insulated insert 50 affixed to the infant cover 20. As can be seen, the removable insulated insert 50 has fastening devices to affix the insulated insert 50 to the infant cover 20. In the exemplary embodiment, there are tabs 52 located at the upper portion 54 of the insulated insert and multiple tabs 52 located at the lower portion 56 of the insulated insert 50. The insulated insert 50 is made of a good heat insulating material such that cold cannot readily pass therethrough.

In FIG. 9, an exemplary method of adding the insulating insert 50 to the infant cover 20 is illustrated, it being understood that other means can be used to insert or attach the insulating insert 50 to the infant cover 20 to protect the infant against cold weather. In FIG. 9, however the inside fleece lining 58 is provided with a zipper 60 to gain access to the space between the inner fleece lining 58 and the outer waterproof material 62. As such, by lowering the zipper 60, the insulated insert 50 can be inserted between the inner fleece lining 58 and the outer waterproof material 62 and secured therein by passing the tabs 52 through loops 64 and secured the tabs 52 to themselves by a hook and loop fastening system (Velcro). Again, other fastening devices can be used, such as snaps, buttons, clips and the like.

The zipper 60 can again be closed so that the infant cover 20 now provides additional protection against cold, inclement weather by adding the additional layer of insulation between the inclement weather and the infant.

Those skilled in the art will recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the infant cover of the present invention which will result in an improved protection to an infant, yet all of which will fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cover adapted to be affixed to the front edges of an item of clothing of a person, the cover comprising a main panel extending at least substantially along front edges of the item of clothing, a pair of opposed side panels extending outwardly from the main panel, affixation devices attached to the main or side panels for affixing the cover to front edges of the item of clothing, wherein the cover can provide protection and comfort to an infant carried by a person.
 2. The cover as defined in claim 1 wherein the side panels are sewn to the main panel.
 3. The cover as defined in claim 1 wherein folds are formed between the main panel and each of the side panels and the affixation devices are located within said folds.
 4. The cover as defined in claim 1 wherein the affixation devices comprise hand manipulated devices adapted to grasp the free edges of clothing.
 5. The cover as defined in claim 1 further including at least one elastic cord passing through a channel at the upper or lower portion of the main panel to adjust the cover.
 6. The cover as defined in claim 1 wherein the main panel comprises an outer waterproof material and an inner soft material.
 7. The cover as defined in claim 6 wherein an insulated insert is located intermediate the outer waterproof material and the inner soft material.
 8. The cover as defined in claim 7 wherein the inner soft material has a zipper provided therein to allow the insulated insert to be inserted and removed from the location intermediate the outer waterproof material and the inner soft material.
 9. The cover of claim 1 wherein the affixation devices are sewn to the main panel.
 10. The cover of claim 1 further including a hood removably affixed to the main panel.
 11. The combination of an item of clothing having front edges adapted to be worn by a person and an infant cover, the infant cover having a main panel and having a pair oppositely disposed side panels extending outwardly from the main panel, the infant cover having affixation devices laterally accessible, said affixation devices affixing the infant cover to the front edges of the item of clothing to create a protective environment within the space between the front edges of the item of clothing.
 12. The combination of claim 10 wherein folds are formed between the front panel and each of the side panels and the affixation devices are located within said folds.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the front edges of the item of clothing are sandwiched within the fold.
 14. The combination of claim 11 wherein the main panel comprises an outer waterproof material and an inner soft material.
 15. The combination of claim 11 wherein the affixation devices comprise a plurality of spaced apart individual fastening devices.
 16. The combination of claim 11 wherein the spaced apart fastening devices are sewn to the main panel.
 17. The combination of claim 11 wherein the item of clothing is a coat.
 18. A method of providing protection to a person wearing an item of clothing having open front edges, the method comprising the steps of providing an infant cover dimensioned to cover substantially the full torso of the person, the infant cover having a main panel and a pair of side panels extending outwardly from the main panel; providing affixation devices on the infant cover at the lateral sides thereof; and using the affixation devices to affix the infant cover to the open front edges of the item of clothing to close the space between the open front edges of the item of clothing to thereby form a protective environment against the torso of a person.
 19. The method of claim 18 where the step of providing an infant cover includes the step of providing an infant cover having folds between the main panel and the pair of side panels and wherein the step of providing affixation devices comprises providing affixation devices located within each of the folds.
 20. The method of claim 19 where the step of using the affixation devices to affix the infant cover to the open front edges of the item of clothing includes the step of positioning the front edges of the coat within the folds. 